The deadlock was broken on 17 minutes as the in-form and influential Megan Campbell whipped a free-kick into the six-yard box where Bronze was the first to connect, heading past FA Semi-Final Player of the Round Ann-Katrin Berger.

The lead was doubled seven minutes later as Bronze won back possession in the final third, dispossessing Paige Williams and assessing her options before floating the perfect cross for Christiansen to run onto and convert expertly.

Mel Lawley forced Berger into a fine stop at her near post before the Blues bagged a third just after the half-hour mark.

Campbell was the architect once more, curling a superb first-time cross to the backpost where Lloyd and Steph Houghton were waiting to pounce. The USA star – on the turf where she netted two in the Olympic final victory in 2012 – connected first and City were in dreamland.

Toni Duggan – hat-trick heroine on Tuesday night – was thwarted by Berger at the near post before Wellings reduced the deficit on 73 minutes with an arrowing first-time finish into the far corner.

City would have the last say though as Duggan was unleashed down the left. The striker teed up international teammate Scott who rode a challenge before smashing into the top corner to put the icing on Jen Beattie’s birthday cake.